SP''s Naresh Agarwal joins BJP; courts controversy over ''sexist'' remark
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 12
Senior Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, and courted controversy immediately after by making a statement about veteran actress Jaya Bachchan that drew criticisms for being sexist.
Agarwal—who was miffed by his former party SP after having been passed over for Bachchan for the party's Rajya Sabha nomination—said on Monday that he was disappointed for having been overlooked for “filmon main nachne aur kaam karne wali (a woman who danced and worked in movies)”.
“My ticket was denied and given to someone who works and dances in films. That is even more painful. My son Nitin who is a SP MLA is also joining BJP and will vote for BJP in Rajya Sabha,” he said after he was inducted into the party ranks at the BJP headquarters on Monday.
A seven-time lawmaker from Hardoi segment, Agarwal was all praise for veteran SP leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav, but claimed he was joining the BJP because “you had to be in a national party to do anything for society”.
“I am the BJP because I think you cannot do anything for society unless you are in a national party. I am also impressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and UP CM Yogi Adityanath. I respect Mulayam Singh Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav, but the current scenario in SP where has coalition arrangements with the Congress and the BSP is very sad,” he said.
Courting trouble
Agarwal’s remarks about Bachchan—coming as it did during the ongoing Parliament session—left the party squirming, with senior leaders immediately launching into damage control.
Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said the BJP “respected people from all walks of life and profession”.
Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj took to Twitter called the comments “improper and unacceptable”.
“Shri Naresh Agarwal has joined Bhartiya Janata Party. He is welcome. However, his comments regarding Jaya Bachhan ji are improper and unacceptable,” she tweeted.
Shri Naresh Agarwal has joined Bhartiya Janata Party. He is welcome. However, his comments regarding Jaya Bachhan ji are improper and unacceptable.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj)
Agarwal is known to make controversial statements. He was criticised recently for having made veiled remarks about the Prime Minister’s caste. “Tell them to make laws in favour of the community (Business Community)... Amit Shah is from our community, but Modi is a ‘Teli’,” he had said.
Although rumours are rife that Bachchan was nominated into the Rajya Sabha in an attempt to placate the faction led by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, sources within the party deny them, accusing Agarwal of being “interested in the position and not the party”.
Agarwal is believed to have been in talks with the BJP for sometime now. There were rumours of his joining the party when he met Home Minister Rajnath Singh around January.
